The present invention generally relates to an adjustable table used in an arena or a stadium. The concept along with the device allows the patron to obtain the food from the concession stand and navigate back to their seat with some degree of safety for the patron as well as the food. Once at their seat the table and supporting devices allow the patron to enjoy the food and beverage in a comfortable environment.
In the present day, people gather in stadiums and arenas to be entertained for a multitude of events, including baseball games, football games, and car races. Some stadiums or arenas provide benches and others provide individual seats which are positioned close to each other in which the viewers sit. The seating arrangement in the stadium is not designed for comfort, but to maximize the capacity of the stadium. Therefore, the amount of space provided for each of the viewers to watch the event is generally small.
The stadiums in the modern era are large and designed to hold as many people as possible. The viewers attending the events at the stadiums require food and drink since the concept of the stadium was introduced by the Greeks for their games. However, the stadium constructed in the past as well as in the present days do not provide a table or surface on which the items are placed while the viewer is being seated. The viewers often consume food and beverages while watching the events in the stadium although the seating is tightly spaced. However, it is difficult and/or uncomfortable to balance or manage food and beverages in the allotted space.
Further, the modern stadiums do not allow the viewers to carry food and drink inside the stadium for security concerns and other considerations. The viewers need to purchase their beverages and food from the on-site vendors and take the items back to their seats. Once the viewer has their beverages and food in hand, and back in their seat, another problem arises. Due to the limited area of the stadium seating, finding a spot to place the food and drink becomes a real issue. Many people set their drink on the floor next to their seat. This usually results in accidentally spillage of the food items by the people traversing through the walkway and seats. In some scenarios, the viewers might themselves knock down the food items unknowingly, forgetting that the food items are placed on the floor closer to their seat. To overcome, the above issue, the viewer may place the food items up in his or her lap or held in the hand until consumed or disposed of. Eating and drinking at a sporting or other popular event is a challenge that few people can navigate without some difficulty.
The concession stand serves the food and drink to the viewer as individual servings. The viewer needs to struggle to carry the items to their seat as they pass through the stair case holding the items in their hands. Further, a flimsy cardboard tray is provided to the viewer. If the viewer is purchasing multiple drinks and food for several people, these cardboard carriers can droop if not supported with both the hands. In an event, when the viewer has to hold a railing for support for climbing the stairs to prevent sudden fall a significant part of their purchase is wasted, due to spillage of the items on the floor as the viewer is not able to hold the cardboard with both the hands. Moreover, the items purchased could get spilt on the neighbors which could spoil the clothes and mood of the neighbor due to sudden spillage of the items.
In light of the forgoing discussion, there exists a need for an adjustable table, that resolves the aforementioned issues. Further, there is a need for a Stadium seat table that provides a surface to hold one or more items allowing the viewer to enjoy the event without any disturbances.
The present invention relates to an adjustable stadium seat table. The adjustable stadium seat table of the present invention provides a solution to eating and drinking issues during the event.
In an embodiment, the adjustable table comprises an upper unit and a lower unit. In an embodiment, the adjustable table comprises a tray, a trey bracket, riser assembly, a horizontal assembly, a seat bracket and a 90 degree angle bracket. The tray and trey bracket form the upper unit of the adjustable table. The lower unit includes the riser assembly, the horizontal assembly and the seat brackets and the 90 degree angle bracket. The reusable, heavy duty tray is used to safely transport drinks and food back to the user's seat. Upon arrival at the seat, the tray is mounted on the riser assembly and adjusted to provide an optimum support of the user's food, drink, and cell phone. In an embodiment, the riser assembly of the present invention is configured to hold the tray. The horizontal assembly comprises an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube and inner tube is designed to fit snugly within the seat brackets. It consists of 6005A-T6 aluminum alloy, 1.25 OD and 1.50″ OD extruded square tubing with 0.020 wall thickness. The 1.25″ tubing is the inner tube which snugly fits within the 1.50″ tubing which is the outer tube. A spring-loaded button in the outer tube is configured to secure the two tubes at any extended position. The riser assembly has a right-angle fitting that is 1.25″ ID and the tray fitting has a rectangular locking plate attached to the rotating fitting. Each of these are manufactured using various aluminum alloys.
In an embodiment, the riser assembly further comprises an angle bracket. The angle bracket is configured to engage the inner tube. The angle bracket is cast using A356 aluminum alloy in a permanent mold. The angle bracket is pinned to the horizontal tubing i.e. inner tube, while accepting the vertical tubing. The outer tube is held in place underneath the seat by the seat brackets. In an embodiment, the outer tube is held by the two seat brackets. The two seat brackets are stamped from 6061 aluminum alloys, 12 gauges (0.081″) thick, sheet stock. The seat brackets are stamped to accept the 1.50″ square outer tube of the horizontal assembly. The seat brackets are secured to the base of the pivoting plastic seat via one or more fasteners. The fasteners are for example but not limited to oval head carriage bolts. In an embodiment, the seat brackets are offset to a left side of the seat allowing the riser assembly to rest against the side of a leg of the user, when installed and allowing the user to stand when the tray is rotated outward at an angle of about 90°.
In an embodiment, the tray is commercially available tray which is 12″ long by 8″ wide by 1″ high. The tray is injection molded from a food grade plastic material. The plastic material is for example but not limited to polypropylene. The food grade plastic material of the present invention is Bisphenol A (BPA) free plastic material. Further the plastic material is very durable, impervious to household and cleaning chemicals and highly resistant to UV degradation. In an embodiment, the tray includes a slot and an opening or a hole. The slot on the tray accommodates a cell phone and hence functions as a cell phone stand. The opening is a drink or cup holder that holds a plastic cup. The tray is held by the riser assembly via the tray bracket. The tray bracket is an offset connector that is adhesively bonded to the tray underneath.
In one embodiment, the tray bracket includes a retaining plate, an outer ring and an inner ring. The retaining plate is stamped from 6061 aluminum alloy sheet which is then secured to the cast outer ring using spool gun MIG welding. The cast inner ring is secured to the square tubing connector using the MIG welding techniques. An interior surface of the outer ring is slotted to accept a snap ring to hold the two rings together and allowing them to rotate independently. In one embodiment, the outer ring is drilled in multiple locations or places to accept a spring-loaded rotation button mounted on the inner ring, locking them in place. In one embodiment, a tray receptacle accepts the metal plate which allows it to slide in such a manner that the sides of the tray capture it. In an embodiment, one or more buttons have enough compliance to prevent the metal plate from inadvertently sliding out. The metal plate could be easily removed for easy return of the tray to a concession stand.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method steps or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.
A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
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In one embodiment, the riser assembly further comprises an angle bracket 110. The angle bracket 110 is configured to connect or join or engage the inner tube 104c (shown in
In an embodiment, the tray 102 is commercially available tray which is 12″ long by 8″ wide by 1″ high. The tray 102 is injection molded from a food grade plastic material. The plastic material is for example but not limited to polypropylene. The plastic material could be any type of food grade plastic material that serves the purpose of the present invention. The food grade plastic material of the present invention is Bisphenol A (BPA) free plastic material. Further the plastic material is very durable, impervious to household and cleaning chemicals and highly resistant to UV degradation. The tray 102 could be supplied in almost any vibrant color, such that a distinctive color is chosen to enhance the product recognition factor, to improve the market adoption of the product. In an embodiment, the tray 102 comprises a slot 114 and an opening or a hole 126. The slot 114 on the tray 102 accommodates a cell phone and hence functions as a cell phone stand. The opening 126 is a drink or cup holder that holds a plastic cup. The tray 102 is held by the riser assembly via the tray bracket 108. The tray bracket 108 fitting is offset to allow the adjustable table 100 to be to either to the left side or right side of the user. Further, the tray bracket 108 is adhesively bonded to the tray 102 underneath. The tray 102 is normally supplied in one of fourteen standard colors or could be supplied in a special-order color. Further, the size of the tray 102 is not limited to the size mentioned above. It could be of any size that serves the purpose of the present invention. The tray 102 is available in the concession stand within the stadium.
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The tray 102 of the present invention is configured to accommodate food, drink, and personal items. The adjustable table 100 is distributed with the items such as food and drinks from the concession stand. The tray 102 of the adjustable table 100 further holds the drink and items securely without spillage. The mechanism for attachment of the tray 102 to the seat 204 is simple and easy. The adjustable table 100 could be rotated with the locking mechanism at four points. The horizontal assembly 104 telescopes out and in for different size users. The adjustable table 100 could be removed and placed under the seat 204 and out of the way when finished. The slot 114 provided on the tray 102 holds the cell phone of the user. The tray 102 is retrieved after an event by the stadium or arena personnel. The adjustable table 100 of the present invention is easy and quick to attach and remove. The adjustable table 100 is made of quality and durable materials. Further, the tray 102 is available in variety of designs and colors. The tray 102 is removed by the user when finished and placed under the seat 204 for the arena personnel to retrieve after the event. The tray 102 is compact and does not interfere with other patrons in the neighboring seats. The food grade tray 102 could be machine washed, air dried, and then stacked in the concession stand for storage. Further, the riser assembly remains beneath the seat 204, and ready for the next use. The adjustable stand 100 holds the items of the viewers right in front of them allowing the viewer to enjoy the event in the stadium without worrying the placement of the expensive food and drink that was purchased for refreshment.
The foregoing description comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.
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